(Yicai Global) Aug. 5 -- China's Hainan has become the country's first province with complete fifth-generation telecoms network coverage after China Unicom opened 48 5G site on the island province.

The firm, one of China's big three state-backed carriers, began construction of a 5G network spanning 19 cities in the region last year, Hainan Daily reported.

China Unicom has already used its 5G technology to live broadcast the Boao Forum for Asia's annual conference and the Two Sessions in Haikou city, and to run application pilots in the medical, media, education and tourism fields.

The provider's regional arm has already begun pre-selling 5G devices in the province.

Editor: James Boynton